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SOURCE: vibe.com
Hip-Hop trailblazers Salt-N-Pepa are taking on one of the music industry’s most powerful entities, Universal Music Group (UMG), in a legal battle over the rights to their master recordings.
On Monday (May 18), the iconic duo — Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton — filed a lawsuit citing the Copyright Act of 1976 in an effort to reclaim ownership of their classic catalog, including hits like “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man.”
The Copyright Act of 1976 allows creators to terminate grants of copyright ownership after a set period of time, typically 35 years, giving artists the right to reclaim their work.
Salt-N-Pepa argue that under this law, the rights to their groundbreaking 1986 debut album Hot, Cool & Vicious, the chart-topping 1987 single “Push It,” and other early works should immediately revert to them.
The iconic group further asserts that works from their later career, including their multi-platinum 1993 album Very Necessary, are also eligible to return to their ownership — some as soon as this year and others by 2026.
In response to the lawsuit, Salt-N-Pepa claims UMG retaliated by pulling their music from streaming platforms, accusing the label of intentionally harming their legacy and cutting off access for fans.
“UMG has indicated that it will hold Plaintiffs’ rights hostage even if it means tanking the value of Plaintiffs’ music catalogue and depriving their fans of access to their work,” the suit reads.
The group believes this move was designed to “maliciously punish” them “for daring to assert their rights.”
UMG, on the other hand, argues that the disputed recordings were “works made for hire,” a classification that would place copyright ownership in the hands of the label.
The company further claims that James and Denton were not directly involved in the 1986 agreement related to their earliest releases, thereby invalidating their claims to initial ownership.
Salt-N-Pepa are regarded as groundbreaking pioneers in Hip-Hop culture. The group has received its own star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, and is up for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year.
Salt-N-Pepa are seeking damages for lost revenue and punitive compensation that could “well exceed” $1 million.
